Israel’s parliamentary crisis following the withdrawal of two of the religious parties from the government coalition, simmered through the Jewish High Holy Days.
The Government announced receipt of the resignations of Rabbi I.M. Lewin, Minister of Social Welfare, and of Rabbi Kalman Kahane, Deputy Minister of Education, members of the Agudath Israel and Agudath Workers parties respectively, but indicated that no immediate action would be taken on them.
Parliament is now in recess so the question of a parliamentary majority does not immediately arise and the Cabinet will not hold its regular weekly meeting tomorrow. A Government spokesman said the situation was not considered a “crisis” since the Government can muster 60 votes in the 120-man Parliament “while it is not certain that there will be 60 against us.”
The remaining two components of the Religious Bloc, the Mizrachi and the Mizrachi Workers, have not yet determined their position and are continuing efforts to achieve a compromise between Premier David Ben Gurion and the Agudist factions.
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